State Farm gives tips on deer collisions

West Virginia tops the list of states where drivers are most likely to run into a deer. Delaware ranks 22 with a 1-in-140 chance of running into a deer.

Staff Reports

West Virginia tops the list of states where a driver is most likely to run into a deer. Delaware ranks 22 with a 1-in-140 chance of running into a deer.

According to State Farm, the number of deer-related collisions in the U.S. increased by 7.7 percent over the last year. State Farm also found that the average cost of deer collisions in property damage during the final half of 2011 and the first half of 2012 was $3,305, up 4.4 percent from the year before.

State Farm offers these tips on how to reduce the odds of a deer-vehicle accident:

Deer generally travel in herds – if you see one, there is a strong possibility others are nearby.Be aware of posted deer crossing signs. These are placed in active deer crossing areas.Deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to light up the areas where deer enter roadways.If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the way could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or place you in the path of an oncoming vehicle.Don't rely on car-mounted deer whistles. For more information, visit www.statefarm.com